Sand blast helmet and ventilating means



Oct. 4, 1932. J. HULL 1,881,192 I SAND BLAST HELMET AND VENTI LATINGMEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1927 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ct. 4 1932. J, ULL v SANDBLAST HELMET AND VENTILATING MEANS Filed Oct. '7. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2atboumq Cd. 4, 1932- F, J HULL 1,881,192

SAND BLAST HELMET AND VENTILATING MEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet3 I Patented Oct. 4, 1932 ",UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca FOSTER J. HULL,F HAGERSTOWN,'MAI%YLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 PANGBORN CORPORA- TION, OFHAGERSTOWN, .MAR-YLAN'D, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND SAND BLAST HELMET ANDVENTILATING MEANS Application filed October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,587.

The invention rolatesto a head gear for use in a sand blast chamber orroom, and for other similar purposes, to protect the sand blast operatorfrom injury due to the flying abrasive and from other sources andto'furnish anadequate ventilation and a healthful air supply. Theapparatus, as shown, in-" oludes a helmet, an air hose with means forsupporting and coiling the hose, and means for controlling the airsupply and mixing outside air or medicated air with the air underpressure, whereby outside air or medicated air at low pressure'andvelocity is passed through the hose to the helmet.

The apparatus of the invention not only furnishes adequate and healthfulventilation whereby the air supply serves to cool the operator inaddition to furnishing him freshpure air for breathing awn times, butthe air is further directed in a manner to prevent condensation on theglass or other transparent material covering the sight openings.

Otheradvantages of the improved construction are that it is formed ofsoft rubber as to the most exposed wearing portions, being preferably ofa fabricated material as to which the rubber serves as a coating andfiller, the rubber serving toresist wear and providing for quiclneasyand inexpensive repairs,the rubber which is used being simi lar to thatwhich .is used for; inner tubes of pneumatic tires, which may berepaired with the ordinary repair kit and material used for thispurpose. p

The helmet is supported on the shoulders, freeing the head of theoperator from this load and the shoulder and collar portion is linedwith soft material which not only serves as a pad, but prevents theentrance of dust and also provides a convenient exit for the ventilatingair. I p

The ventilating hoseis also attached to the helmet in a manner providingfor a quick detachment therefrom, and means is further provided not onlytaking up the slack of the hose but for counter balancing it andsupporting 1t onv the chamber structure so, that the operators shouldersare to a large extent 'i elievedv of, this burden. r I 1 Theobservationor sight openlngsare so constructed that thetransparentmembers are conveniently removed, which, in conjunction withthe quick detachability of the ventilating hose permits the user towalkbeyond the confines of the sand blast enclosure or other enclosurewithout the necessity for removing the helmet.

In the preferred form, the sight openings are provided with flexibleannular recesses to permit the insertion of the transparentmembers,which may or may not be protected by'a screen. In the secondaryform the transparent members are externally placed and supported bymeans of a strap.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a protecting andventilating apparatus including a head gear or helmet embodying thefeatures of my invention in the preferred form.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a front View of the helmet and shoulder covering or collar.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1. 1

Figure 3 is a view showing in section a, sand blast chamber with theoperator therein equipped with the apparatus of the invention, shown ona reduced scale.

Figure 4c is a section on the line 4-4.0f Figure 3 showing theventilating air nozzle and the manner of connecting the same to thehelmet.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the helmet showing a modified form of sightopening and transparent closure or goggles.

Figure 6 is a similar elevation with the transparent closure removed.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 5 showing the transparentclosure or goggles in place.

Figure 8 is a similar view with the transparent closure removed, thesame being taken online 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section showing themanner of mixing the outside air withcompressed similar parts in the different figures, the apscreen 24 maybe inserted paratus, shown, comprises the head covering or helmet proper1, a shoulder portion 2 by which the helmet is supported, strapfastenings formed in front and rear portions 3, :1, and shoulderstrapsia. "l li-eapparatus also Includes ventilatingaii' pipe, 7,supporting pulley 8, counter balance pulley 9 and the a mixing injector10.

The helmet is preferably constructed of fabric 12 coated and combinedwith soft'rubber 14, particularly as to the external surface and wearingparts where the rubber offers the mosttenacious resistance to the actionof the abrasive and is easily and inexpensively repaired by means ofavulcanizing mixture of raw rubber'or the usual inner tube repairmaterial and after the well known manner of repairing inner tubes.

The helmet,-as shown, hook 15 at the top center. This hook is shown ashaving a threaded shank 16 which 18 passed through washers 17 on theinside and outslde of the helmet fabric, being secured by means of nuts18 engaging the threaded shank 16 and locked above and belowthewashers17. The hook 15,-inthe,

form'show-n, engages an: eye 19 ,or other hanger in the cellingof thechamber suspending the helmet and connected member whencnot in use.

The observationor sight openings 20, in

* the preferred structure shown in Figures 1 outside and inside, whichand 2, are formed with an annular circumferential recess 21 in which theedges of the P P glass 22 and screen 24:, by which the glass may beprotected, are seated. This recess is to the'best advantage formed offlexible portions of fabric and rubber 25, 26, on the may be,and to thebest advantage are, integral with the fabric and rubber structureforming the helmet or head portion 1 of the apparatus. The portions 25and 26 surrounding the opening are 1 so flexible that the edges of theglass 22 and which, in

therein and removed therefrom easily and conveniently and," in fact,instantaneously at the will of the 0perat0r, th e"said'members 25 and26- fact, form, an. encircling frame for the glass and screen, beingeasily flexed and even stretched for this purpose, admitting and"releasing the glass and screen.

, In the form of the invention shown, the parts to be referred to beingbest illustrated in Figures .1 and 4, the ventilating-or air pipe 7 isconnected to the helmet 1 at theneck portion 27 on each side,-though theexact construction shown is not essential to the inventlon.

This manner of connection has important advantages, as the air isfirstbrought in contact with the neckof the workman int e vicinity ofthe large arteries and veins through which the blood supply to the brainpasses, so thatthe workman is thus relieved by the is provided with acooling contact at this point of the otherwise oppressive effect of theapparatus which nec-.

essarily completely, encloses the head and neck of the wearer in acovering which is essentially impervious to the usualand naturalcoolin'g and ventilatingfagencies"."

In the form of the invention 'shown,there are two air nozzles orconnections 28 by which 'the'xairsupply, to be further describedanddiscussed, is led to and introduced into the helmet, preferably as tothe neck portion as already stated. 7 v

The said nozzles, in the form shown, are

flanged at29 at the outer or discharge end and the nozzle passage 30 isinclined to the planeof the flange directing the air from the pipe 7which is at the rear, forwardly and upwardly in contact with theWe'are'rs neck,

as valready pointed out, and the arrangement of the nozzle passage issuch that it further directs the air supply into contact with and acrossthe respiratory organs of the wearer and against the insidesurfaceof'the trans-f parent material which closes the sight open ings,preventing condensationat this point whereby the vision of the wearerwould otherwise be obscured. v

In order to supply the two nozzles 28, the air pipe 7 is formed at itsdelivery end with a branched or Y portion 31" :whereby the two nozzles28 are connectedas to'their shank portion 32 with the I pipe 7,the'shanks 32 being, as shown, inserted in the ends of the i e at 33,which ends are expanded by the insertion of thenozzles, forming a'tightclosure around the nozzle shanlnf j,

The nozzles 28, in addition tobeing inclined to the flanges 29, whicharesecured to the helmet walls, are expandedin cross sec-" tional areaat'the outward end, reducing'the veloclty oftl're discharge andproducing an expanding jet which covers substantially the entire faceportion of the helmet. The

nozzle flanges29, asjsliown, are secured to the wallsof thehelm'et bymeans of bolts 34 passing through the flanges 29 and seated at theirinner ends in washers 35 which underlie the'helmet fabric on the inside,surrounding the nozzle openings 36. v

The helmet,' as shown, is provided with shoulder portions or 'sections2lined with -w0ol-like material 39, which may tOi dvanat the front andback at each side of the apparatus,'i. e., each shoulder, and theshoulder straps 5 are secured in any, suitable manner to the frontshoulder strap 3 and the rear shoulder strap 4', respectively, at thefront and rear ends of the straps 5 and this'securing means 41preferably arranged with a plurality of points of attachment 42 so thatthe straps may beadjusted to suit the operator, a desirable securingdevice being like or similar to the snap fasteners used on automobilecurtains.

In operation the apparatus is secured to the workman in any obviousmanner, the helmet being placed in position and the shoulder portionsresting on the shoulders, the straps 3 and 4 are buckled together at theends beneath the operators arms, as shown particularly in Figure 3, thebuckles being indicated by reference character 43.

The air pipe 7 is supported by means of pulley 8 mounted in a suitablehousing 44 and supported in any suitable manner as by swinging thehousing from the ceiling 45 of the chamber 46 and the hose 7 is counterbalanced by means of a pulley 9 and counter balance weight 47 connectedto the pulley in any suitable manner, the preferred form being asillustrated;

Ventilating and cooling air is, in accordance with the preferred form ofthe invention shown, supplied to the hose 7 by means of the injectormixer 10 illustrated in detail in Figure 9. In accordance with theillustration the injector nozzle 49 is supplied with compressed air fromany suitable source by way of the pipe 50. This nozzle 49 dischargesinto the injector or mixer chamber 51 to which pure air from the outsideor medicated air is supplied, entering the side of the chamber by way ofair supply passage 52. The air pipe 7 is connected to a dischargefitting 53 seated in chamber 51 and of an internal diameter many timesas large as the nozzle, the same being placed directly opposite thenozzle so that the nozzle is directed into the end of the discharge pipe53, which is funnel flared at its intake end, as shown at 54, and spacedaway from the noz- I zle to provide for the entrance of pure air ormedicated air from the chamber 51 supplied by way of passage 52 at theside.

It will be understood that the velocity of the jet from the nozzle 49will create a vacuum in the chamber 51, drawing in the air by way ofpassage 52, and that this air will This manner of introducing a largevolume the velocity of the jet, and at a comparatively small quantity ofair under pressure has 0bvious advantages in the way of economy andconvenience, the necessity for pumping a large volume of a-ir-at lowpressure being thus dispensed with, it beingunderstood that thehighpressure air ordinarily supplied for various purposes inmanufacturing plants and'machine shops would not be desirable for thispurpose except for the provision of the mixing device described, wherebythe pres sure and velocity are reduced and the volume of air dischargedis greatly increased.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modified form of sightopening and glasses. In this instance a single sight opening 60 isprovided, so located and formed as to overlie both eyes of the operator.This sight opening, in the form shown, is encompassed on both the insideand outside of the helmet wall 12 with frames 61 and 62 of thin springmetal which may be secured together by rivets or other suitablefasteners 63, giving a slight degree of stiffness to the helmet fabricat this point. In the preferred construction ofthis modification the eyeglasses 64.

.are passed around the outside of the helmet and secured or connected toeach other in any. suitable manner.

The manner of operating and using the apparatus has been fully broughtout in the preamble and in connection with the description. The .wallsof the neck and head portions of the helmet are so flexible and the neckis of such proportions that the helmet is easily put on and taken off bypassing the head through the neck portion and in this position is heldby means of the straps 3,4 and shoulder straps 5, as already described,the position of the straps 3, 4, relatively to the shoulder straps beingvaried to suit the operator by changing the position of engagement offastenings 41 and 42. i

In voperation, as illustrated in Figure 3, the air hose 7 is supportedby the pulley 8, the slack being taken up by the counter balance pulley9 and weight 47. The air draft is preferably directed as shown anddescribed, being introduced at the sides of the neck in the vicinityofthe large arteries and veins where the air has the greatest met andshoulder covering. The draft is also directed forwardly and'upwardly tothe respiratory.organs and. in contact with the transparent members, i.e., the screen and iglass preventing condensation and conseturnedfreely. The supporting of the helmet on the shoulders, as described,with the hose connected to the neck, cause the stresses incident todragging the hose to be'taken up entirely by and on the operatorsshoulders, relieving the head therefrom. The strapping of the shoulderpiecetothe operator, as shown, beneath the operators arms, contributesto this result; The supporting pulleys 8 and the counter balance pulley9 also assist in taking the Weight ofthe hose from the operator anddisposing of the slack. I

An important advantage consists in the provision of a supply of pureoutside air or medicated air at, or substantially at atmosphericpressure which is introduced by means ofthe airpressure injector 10, asalready described, the velocity incident to the release of the air underpressure through the nozzle 49, much reduced onaceount of the increasedvolume, being imparted to the outside air admitted through the; passages52 and 53 to the hose 7.

Another advantage of the apparatus, as already pointed out,.consis ts inthe provision of removable transparent coverings for the sight openings20 and 60 and aconven iently removable connection as at 32, 33, whichpermits the operator to go outside the chamber at will, removing thecovering of the sight opening and disconnecting the hose 7 withouttaking off the helmet. This is necessary for various purposes, asremoving nected to the neck portion of the helmet at the sides anddirected upwardly and forwardly toward the eye openingssupplyingbreathing air and preventing condensation on the transparentmembers, the helmctgb eing adapted to release quantities of aircorresponding to the quantities introduced to prevent the and bringingin the Work, in the form of castings or the like to be treated with thesand I have thus described specifically and in detail av sand blasthelmet or head gear and ventilating apparatus therefor, the descrip-'tion being specific and in detail in order that the co'nstruction andmanner of using and operating the apparatus of the invention may befully understood, however, the

specific terms herein are used descriptively ratherthan in a limitingsense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

lVhat Iclaim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is: r

A helmet having eye openings with transparent closures and means forsupplying air thereto comprising an air hose and nozzle, means forsupplying an air draft through the hose and nozzle, the nozzle eing con

